Adhesive tape spool



Nov. 1, 1949. A. w. CANHAM ADHESIVE TAPE SPOOL Filed Aug. 24, 1946 Patented Nov. 1, 1949 2,486,515 ADHESIVE TAPE SPOOL Arthur William Canham, Hamilton, Ontario,

Canad Application August 24, 1946, Serial No. 692,868

. 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in adhesive tape spools and consists essentially of a novel tear guide for facilitating the freeing of sections of the tape from the main body. The invention more particularly relates to spools containing tape coated with prepared adhesive such as surgeons tape and Scotch tape.

These spools consist of a cylinder on which the tape is wound and twin coaxial radial or annular flanges which are spaced in conformity to the particular width of the tape. Such tape which has a coating of prepared or ready adhesive (adhesive which does not first require moistening) adheres to itself when coiled on the spool, and consequently it is often diificult to separate the free end in order to start to peel off a section of the tape for use, and then to properly and neatly sever the freed length from the main body. Commonly the finger nails are used to start the tape in peeling off a section, but that method has certain disadvantages. Not only is it time consuming, but also impracticable when the nails are worn unusually short or long. Then when the portion of the tape of the length to be used is released from its adherence to the roll it must be parted. This step is usually performed either by ripping or by shearing, both procedures having their objectionable features. Ripping often leaves the still intact end of the tape in a wrinkled, ragged and loose condition, while scissors, even when a pair is found at hand, attract some of the gummy adhesive material and have to be wiped.

The principal object of the invention then is to provide means in permanent association with a tape spool for the combined purpose of assisting in cross cutting the tape and subsequently leaving a tab-like portion of the still intact tape outstanding and free of the roll so it can be grasped for peeling the next length.

Another important object is to provide a device of the character specified which will be simple and inexpensive to incorporate into an otherwise conventional tape spool.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a spool of adhesive tape showing a tape cutter or tear guide as constructed in accordance with the inventlon.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view.

0n the drawing is shown a conventionally (per se) constructed tape spool consisting of the cylindrical core l0 and the coaxial side flanges or guards I2. The roll of tape is indicated by M.

In the conventional spool the tape is wound directly on the cylinder l 0, and the coil is therefore in fixed relation thereto. However, in consequence of the invention the coil must be free to rotate for a reason which will later appear obvious. Accordingly, the tape is wound on a band or reel l5 which conforms to the cylinder 1 0 and on which it is free to rotate.

In its present embodiment the invention consists'of what shall be preferably called a tear guide, although it might well be termed a crosscutter or knife. This guide is preferably formed with a bridge portion l6 and an edged blade [1 which curves inwardly from the bridge and engages the roll.

The bridge l6 spans the interval between the flanges I 2 and on its ends has pintles I9 which fall loosely in holes or bearing openings 20 in the flanges. Thus the edged body or tear guide is transversely pivoted in the spool and when the spool is positioned with the tear guide uppermost the latter rests with its edge on the roll. Obviously the guide may be inserted, and may be demounted if need be, by merely warping or springing one of the flanges outwardly so it is temporarily further spread from the other.

While the bridge portion N5 of the tear guide fully spans the flanges I 2, apart from a movement tolerance, the blade runs from one flange but terminates well short of the opposite member. Thus when a length of the tape to be severed from the roll is torn along the edge of the blade starting from the side opposite the gap 2|, the blade the while being firmly held against the roll, it will continue to tear across the gap or blade free portion of the roll in alignment with the blade edge, but a correspondingly short part of the end portion of the remaining roll which apparently was pulled into the gap during the tearing operation remains free of the roll and is the equivalent of a tab by which to start peeling a subsequent length of tape. This free tab-like portion is indicated by the reference numeral 22.

Obviously the pivotal mounting of the tear guide renders it self adjusting to the progressively reduced girth of the roll, and the rotatability of the roll enables a length of tape to be peeled off and stopped at the tear guide at the elevation proper point while the spool remains stationary.

A punched-out stop 24 is provided in one flange as a guard against back-flop of the tear guide.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

I claim:

In a device of the kind described, a spool having a cylindrical core and a pair of flanges forming heads, a tape carrying reel revolubly mounted on said core, and a tear guide having a bridge portion extending between said flanges and rovided at its ends with pintles, said flanges being provided with openings receiving said pintles, said tear guide having a cutting edge opposite the bridge portion and extending from one flange,

said cutting edge terminating in substantially spaced relation to the other flange.

ARTHUR WILLIAM CANHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

